Camping in Charnwood Forest

·

This surprisingly wild, craggy, and forested area of countryside sits roughly between Leicester, Loughborough, and Coalville. It encompasses several popular outdoor spaces including Bradgate Park and parts of Middle England’s major reforestation project, the National Forest. Take a walk in Bradgate Park, try your hand at narrowboating, or relax at a waterside country pub on the Grand Union Canal, then visit historic spots like the Battle of Bosworth Field battle site. The region’s best camping is around the parish of Quorn, where pitching places include Broome Island—only accessible by boat.

94% (1.6K) 996 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Charnwood Forest

Secret Wood Glamping

1. Secret Wood Glamping

95%
(20)
10 units · Tents, Glamping · Derbyshire S18 7 Wf, England
A private woodland and stream all to yourself, with one spacious bell tent and a hot tub beneath the stars
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£18
 / night
River Dove Camp

2. River Dove Camp

100%
(103)
10 units · Tents · Ashbourne, Derbyshire, East Midlands
A perfectly simple, riverside Hipcamp on the edge of the Peak District
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£10
 / night
Tackeroo Campsite

3. Tackeroo Campsite

96%
(67)
54 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Staffordshire, West Midlands
Basic pitches (without toilet facilities) in Forestry Commission-owned woods beside a renowned mountain biking trail
Pets
Potable water
Picnic table
from 
£17
 / night
Woodland View Luxury Glamping Pods

4. Woodland View Luxury Glamping Pods

2 units · Glamping · CA
Woodland View is set among rolling Leicestershire hills, close to the bustling market town of Melton Mowbray – renowned as the Rural Capital of Food. Visit the town’s famous pie shop to sample a traditional Melton Mowbray pork pie, or head to the nearby village of Colston Bassett – where Stilton cheese is made. Melton hosts several popular markets, including a weekly street marlet, antiques market farmers and cattle and livestock market. Families will love a day out at Twinlakes Theme Park and you are just a short distance from a luxury spa experience at Ragdale Hall or a trip back in time at historic Belvoir Castle. The large shopping centres of Leicester and Nottingham are within easy reach.
Pets
Showers
Potable water
from 
£100
 / night
Buzzard Holt Hosting

5. Buzzard Holt Hosting

100%
(7)
13 units · Glamping · Buckingham, England
Glamping with a mini outdoor spa on the edge of Stowe Park in Buckinghamshire
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£59
 / night
Cotswolds Glamping

6. Cotswolds Glamping

100%
(6)
4 units · Glamping · Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, South East England
Fun, laid-back, glamping that's ideal for groups, with silent discos and wood-fired hot tubs.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£96
 / night
Sleep Wild

7. Sleep Wild

100%
(20)
2 units · Glamping · Banbury, Oxfordshire, South East England
Curvy cabins with hot tubs on an expansive farm in the Oxfordshire countryside
Pets
Showers
Hot Tub
from 
£151
 / night
Bredon-Vale Caravan and Camping

8. Bredon-Vale Caravan and Camping

99%
(48)
3 units · Glamping · Evesham, England
Laid-back glamping near Evesham, overlooking Bredon Hill and the Malverns.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£65
 / night
Riverside Camping - Festival Feel

9. Riverside Camping - Festival Feel

92%
(38)
41 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Bedfordshire, England
A pop-up campsite on the banks of the River Great Ouse, with workshops, music, good food and a festival vibe
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£31
 / night
Burrs Manor Wild Camping

10. Burrs Manor Wild Camping

87%
(152)
30 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Buxton, England
Nearly wild camping in the Peak District National Park, near Buxton
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£12
 / night
Camping at The Hollies

11. Camping at The Hollies

95%
(232)
50 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Buxton, Derbyshire, East Midlands
Back-to-basics camping at the foot of the Roaches in the Peak District National Park
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£18
 / night
The Pig Place Campsite

12. The Pig Place Campsite

92%
(93)
45 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Oxfordshire, South East England
Canal-side camping for adults on a rustic Oxfordshire pig farm
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£10
 / night
The Old Vicarage

13. The Old Vicarage

79%
(17)
6 units · Tents, Glamping · Retford, Nottinghamshire, East Midlands
The Old Vicarage offers a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere for your stay for camping. We have BBQ's, camp fires to hire and have the shallow river to play in. Free Wifi. Well behaved dogs allowed on leads at all times. Riverside site in grounds of a 17th-century house in Nottinghamshire Close to Sherwood Forest and 25 miles from Nottingham Cave bar on site open on Bank Holidays You'll sense the history all around you at The Old Vicarage, from the old house to the remains of the water mill in the river bed. Stays here are in the grounds of a 17th-century house in the village of Elkesley, six miles from Worksop and 25 miles from Nottingham. Its grounds run down to the banks of the Poulter river, and are lined with stands of acacia, sycamore, ash and oak trees which were originally donated to the first vicar by the Duke of Newcastle in the 1830s. There's plenty of space around the site for traditional outdoor activities, with a rope swing and stepping stones over the shallow river and a bridge that's perfect for playing Pooh Sticks. In the surrounding area there are animal parks and nature reserves to walk around, or to head back further in time, you could take one of the trails through ancient Sherwood Forest, around quarter of an hour's drive away. Guest facilities on site centre around the Cave Bar, a cool little space built into an exposure of 500-million-year-old sandstone, plus an outdoor terrace for sipping drinks out in the sunshine. Other amenities include a washing-up area and bathrooms with plentiful hot showers, toilets and baby changing facilities. No Fire Pits BBQ;s off the floor. No disposable BBQ;s CHECK IN BETWEEN 2PM AND 6PM CHECK INS AFTER 6PM INCUR A FEE OF £10.00 FOR LATE CHECK IN
Pets
Showers
Potable water
from 
£28
 / night
Purple Badger Camping&Fishing Lakes

14. Purple Badger Camping&Fishing Lakes

97%
(66)
12 units · Tents, Glamping · Beeby, England
Glamping and campfire-friendly camping by a pair of fishing lakes in the Leicestershire countryside
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from 
£35
 / night
Heygates Lodging

15. Heygates Lodging

100%
(21)
2 units · Glamping · Market Harborough, Leicestershire, East Midlands
A place to unwind in the heart of the countryside. Canalside walks are on your doorstep and nature is never far away - birds of prey such as red kites and buzzards are plentiful, and you may be lucky enough to see otters in the canal. There's a variety of pubs and restaurants within a short drive, and the market towns of Rugby and Market Harborough area about 20 minutes away. Unwind in the hot tub, enjoy local beers and ciders or pick from our expertly curated wine list. Our Lodges have their own fire pits and BBQs, and all fuel is provided. Each lodge has its own hammock, and a designated private fishing peg at a turning point in the canal, meaning that you'll be largely undisturbed by passing boats.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£180
 / night
Intake Farm

16. Intake Farm

98%
(64)
7 units · Tents, Glamping · Alton, Staffordshire, West Midlands
Quirky glamping and nearly wild camping on a farm in Staffordshire
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£15
 / night
Rural Relaxing

17. Rural Relaxing

93%
(14)
22 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Market Harborough, Leicestershire, East Midlands
Family-friendly camping and glamping on the edge of Medbourne – a charming Leicestershire village with a pub, tea rooms and post office
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£25
 / night
Fox’s Furrow

18. Fox’s Furrow

100%
(6)
1 unit · Glamping · Leicester, Leicestershire, East Midlands
Located in the rolling Leicestershire countryside on a medieval ridge and furrow field, our 2 acre site offers a beautiful quiet retreat just outside the quaint village of Houghton on the Hill. The site is perfect for walkers and keen cyclists. Access into Leicester is also easy via a bus or taxi.
Pets
Showers
Hot Tub
from 
£153
 / night
Cuckoo Farm Campsite

19. Cuckoo Farm Campsite

99%
(202)
13 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Rutland, East Midlands
Family camping with campfires on an organic farm, set alongside the beautiful River Chater
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£20
 / night
White Peak Camping

20. White Peak Camping

99%
(465)
18 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Buxton, Derbyshire, East Midlands
Camping on a Peak District farm near the Monsal Trail
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£13
 / night

This surprisingly wild, craggy, and forested area of countryside sits roughly between Leicester, Loughborough, and Coalville. It encompasses several popular outdoor spaces including Bradgate Park and parts of Middle England’s major reforestation project, the National Forest. Take a walk in Bradgate Park, try your hand at narrowboating, or relax at a waterside country pub on the Grand Union Canal, then visit historic spots like the Battle of Bosworth Field battle site. The region’s best camping is around the parish of Quorn, where pitching places include Broome Island—only accessible by boat.

94% (1.6K) 996 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Charnwood Forest

Secret Wood Glamping

1. Secret Wood Glamping

95%
(20)
10 units · Tents, Glamping · Derbyshire S18 7 Wf, England
A private woodland and stream all to yourself, with one spacious bell tent and a hot tub beneath the stars
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£18
 / night
River Dove Camp

2. River Dove Camp

100%
(103)
10 units · Tents · Ashbourne, Derbyshire, East Midlands
A perfectly simple, riverside Hipcamp on the edge of the Peak District
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£10
 / night
Tackeroo Campsite

3. Tackeroo Campsite

96%
(67)
54 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Staffordshire, West Midlands
Basic pitches (without toilet facilities) in Forestry Commission-owned woods beside a renowned mountain biking trail
Pets
Potable water
Picnic table
from 
£17
 / night
Woodland View Luxury Glamping Pods

4. Woodland View Luxury Glamping Pods

2 units · Glamping · CA
Woodland View is set among rolling Leicestershire hills, close to the bustling market town of Melton Mowbray – renowned as the Rural Capital of Food. Visit the town’s famous pie shop to sample a traditional Melton Mowbray pork pie, or head to the nearby village of Colston Bassett – where Stilton cheese is made. Melton hosts several popular markets, including a weekly street marlet, antiques market farmers and cattle and livestock market. Families will love a day out at Twinlakes Theme Park and you are just a short distance from a luxury spa experience at Ragdale Hall or a trip back in time at historic Belvoir Castle. The large shopping centres of Leicester and Nottingham are within easy reach.
Pets
Showers
Potable water
from 
£100
 / night
Buzzard Holt Hosting

5. Buzzard Holt Hosting

100%
(7)
13 units · Glamping · Buckingham, England
Glamping with a mini outdoor spa on the edge of Stowe Park in Buckinghamshire
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£59
 / night
Cotswolds Glamping

6. Cotswolds Glamping

100%
(6)
4 units · Glamping · Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, South East England
Fun, laid-back, glamping that's ideal for groups, with silent discos and wood-fired hot tubs.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£96
 / night
Sleep Wild

7. Sleep Wild

100%
(20)
2 units · Glamping · Banbury, Oxfordshire, South East England
Curvy cabins with hot tubs on an expansive farm in the Oxfordshire countryside
Pets
Showers
Hot Tub
from 
£151
 / night
Bredon-Vale Caravan and Camping

8. Bredon-Vale Caravan and Camping

99%
(48)
3 units · Glamping · Evesham, England
Laid-back glamping near Evesham, overlooking Bredon Hill and the Malverns.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£65
 / night
Riverside Camping - Festival Feel

9. Riverside Camping - Festival Feel

92%
(38)
41 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Bedfordshire, England
A pop-up campsite on the banks of the River Great Ouse, with workshops, music, good food and a festival vibe
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£31
 / night
Burrs Manor Wild Camping

10. Burrs Manor Wild Camping

87%
(152)
30 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Buxton, England
Nearly wild camping in the Peak District National Park, near Buxton
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£12
 / night
Camping at The Hollies

11. Camping at The Hollies

95%
(232)
50 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Buxton, Derbyshire, East Midlands
Back-to-basics camping at the foot of the Roaches in the Peak District National Park
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£18
 / night
The Pig Place Campsite

12. The Pig Place Campsite

92%
(93)
45 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Oxfordshire, South East England
Canal-side camping for adults on a rustic Oxfordshire pig farm
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£10
 / night
The Old Vicarage

13. The Old Vicarage

79%
(17)
6 units · Tents, Glamping · Retford, Nottinghamshire, East Midlands
The Old Vicarage offers a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere for your stay for camping. We have BBQ's, camp fires to hire and have the shallow river to play in. Free Wifi. Well behaved dogs allowed on leads at all times. Riverside site in grounds of a 17th-century house in Nottinghamshire Close to Sherwood Forest and 25 miles from Nottingham Cave bar on site open on Bank Holidays You'll sense the history all around you at The Old Vicarage, from the old house to the remains of the water mill in the river bed. Stays here are in the grounds of a 17th-century house in the village of Elkesley, six miles from Worksop and 25 miles from Nottingham. Its grounds run down to the banks of the Poulter river, and are lined with stands of acacia, sycamore, ash and oak trees which were originally donated to the first vicar by the Duke of Newcastle in the 1830s. There's plenty of space around the site for traditional outdoor activities, with a rope swing and stepping stones over the shallow river and a bridge that's perfect for playing Pooh Sticks. In the surrounding area there are animal parks and nature reserves to walk around, or to head back further in time, you could take one of the trails through ancient Sherwood Forest, around quarter of an hour's drive away. Guest facilities on site centre around the Cave Bar, a cool little space built into an exposure of 500-million-year-old sandstone, plus an outdoor terrace for sipping drinks out in the sunshine. Other amenities include a washing-up area and bathrooms with plentiful hot showers, toilets and baby changing facilities. No Fire Pits BBQ;s off the floor. No disposable BBQ;s CHECK IN BETWEEN 2PM AND 6PM CHECK INS AFTER 6PM INCUR A FEE OF £10.00 FOR LATE CHECK IN
Pets
Showers
Potable water
from 
£28
 / night
Purple Badger Camping&Fishing Lakes

14. Purple Badger Camping&Fishing Lakes

97%
(66)
12 units · Tents, Glamping · Beeby, England
Glamping and campfire-friendly camping by a pair of fishing lakes in the Leicestershire countryside
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from 
£35
 / night
Heygates Lodging

15. Heygates Lodging

100%
(21)
2 units · Glamping · Market Harborough, Leicestershire, East Midlands
A place to unwind in the heart of the countryside. Canalside walks are on your doorstep and nature is never far away - birds of prey such as red kites and buzzards are plentiful, and you may be lucky enough to see otters in the canal. There's a variety of pubs and restaurants within a short drive, and the market towns of Rugby and Market Harborough area about 20 minutes away. Unwind in the hot tub, enjoy local beers and ciders or pick from our expertly curated wine list. Our Lodges have their own fire pits and BBQs, and all fuel is provided. Each lodge has its own hammock, and a designated private fishing peg at a turning point in the canal, meaning that you'll be largely undisturbed by passing boats.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£180
 / night
Intake Farm

16. Intake Farm

98%
(64)
7 units · Tents, Glamping · Alton, Staffordshire, West Midlands
Quirky glamping and nearly wild camping on a farm in Staffordshire
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£15
 / night
Rural Relaxing

17. Rural Relaxing

93%
(14)
22 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Market Harborough, Leicestershire, East Midlands
Family-friendly camping and glamping on the edge of Medbourne – a charming Leicestershire village with a pub, tea rooms and post office
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£25
 / night
Fox’s Furrow

18. Fox’s Furrow

100%
(6)
1 unit · Glamping · Leicester, Leicestershire, East Midlands
Located in the rolling Leicestershire countryside on a medieval ridge and furrow field, our 2 acre site offers a beautiful quiet retreat just outside the quaint village of Houghton on the Hill. The site is perfect for walkers and keen cyclists. Access into Leicester is also easy via a bus or taxi.
Pets
Showers
Hot Tub
from 
£153
 / night
Cuckoo Farm Campsite

19. Cuckoo Farm Campsite

99%
(202)
13 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Rutland, East Midlands
Family camping with campfires on an organic farm, set alongside the beautiful River Chater
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£20
 / night
White Peak Camping

20. White Peak Camping

99%
(465)
18 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Buxton, Derbyshire, East Midlands
Camping on a Peak District farm near the Monsal Trail
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£13
 / night

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Camping in Charnwood Forest guide

Where to go

Bradgate Park & Swithland Wood

The big go-to outdoor playground for citizens of Leicester, Bradgate Park is a delightful old deer park and a montage of moors, crags, and woods seeming more similar to the Peak District than to the suburb-adjacent country park it is. Come to walk, explore wildlife-reclaimed industrial land, bird-watch in Swithland Woods, and visit the former home of Lady Jane Grey, Britain’s shortest-reigning monarch.

Moira & The National Forest

The area around Moira was heavily scarred by its former coal mining industry, which was why it was chosen as the location for the National Forest. This major reforestation project straddles parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire, combining existing old-growth forest with newer plantations, and has rejuvenated the area as an outdoor destination for walkers, cyclists, and horse-riders. Ex-mining village Moira now hosts the National Forest Discovery Centre, some restored mining attractions, and camping options nearby.

Ashby Canal

The Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal links Leicestershire’s Moira and Warwickshire’s Bedworth, with the section between Bedworth and Snarestone navigable. Interesting sights along its course include the Battlefield Line heritage railway between Shackerstone and Shenton, plus the Bosworth Field battle site. The canal winds close to several campsites catering to tent campers, caravanners, and glampers.

Grand Union Canal

The UK’s longest canal brushes the northeast of Charnwood Forest at villages like Mountsorrel and nearby Sileby, with its convenient railway station. The 137-mile waterway, connecting Birmingham and London, is full of surprises, showing off a greener, quieter side to the big towns it passes through and crossing some pretty countryside too. Narrowboat, walk, or cycle the towpath, visit idyllic canal-side pubs and camp at unique waterside sites like Broome Island near Quorn—accessible only by boat.